Index sheet for loose-leaf binders



Feb. 18,' 1930. J. L. MCMILLAN INDEX SHEET FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS Filed April 15, 1929 ATTORNEYS,

Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN L. MCMILLAN, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO MCMILLAN BOOK COM* PANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION NEW YORK INDEX SHEET FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS Application led April 15, 1929. Serial No. 355,260.

This invention relates to a new and improved index sheet for loose leaf binders.

When loose leaf binders are used as visible indices, the sheets used in the binder are considerably shorter in height than the binder itself, so that they may be inserted in the binder in overlapping relation with a portion of one edge of each sheet exposed to view, such exposed portion usually carrying indicia of some character. v vWhen sheets are placed in the Vbinder in this relation, the number of superimposed sheets is varied at ditierent places in the -binden The top sheet, for example, will have no other sheet superimposed upon its upper exposed edge, while the upper exposed edge oi' the second sheet will be superimposed .upon the top sheet. The upper exposed portion of the uthird sheet will be superimposed upon the second sheet and the top sheet, and so on with the remaining sheets. The sheets -being equal in height, the bottom edge of the second sheet will extend beyond the bottom .edge of the first sheet, and the bottom edge of the third sheet will extend beneath the bottom edge of the second sheet. The result oi' this arrangement is that the number ot superimposed sheets will gradually increase until the middle portion of the binder is reached, and from there downward will grad- Y ually decrease until there will be the lower edge of only one sheet resting on the binder at its bottom edge. As a concrete example, if 36 sheets are placed in the binder in overlapping relation there 'will be the thickness of onlyrone sheet at the top and bottom edges of the binder, but in the middle portion there will be the combined thickness of 18 sheets.

In using a loose .leaf binder as a visible index, it is usual to place therein a number of sets of similar overlapping sheets and to divide such sets by index she-ets, so that Areference may be readily madeto any one of the sets.

Inasmuch as such binders are usually made sufficiently large so that a considerable number of sets of sheets may be conned therein at the same time, it will beapparent that there will be a very great 'difference in thickness between the sheets at the top and bottom edges of the binder and those in the middle portions of the binder. For example, if each ,set of sheets consists of 36 individual sheets and 10 sets are placed in a binder, there will be at Vthe top and bottom vrenders the binder difficult and awkward to use because of the tact that the sheets are not disposed in a level plane and it is inconvenient to make notations upon them.

In order to overcome this diiiiculty, I have designed an index sheet which will itself be of such a size and shape as to compensate for the difference in thickness of the set of sheets with which it is used. In order to accomplish this purpose, I propose to increase the thickness of the index sheet, at its top and bottom edges, an amount su'liicient to compensate tor the difference in thickness between the single sheet at the top and bottom edges of the binder and the greatest number of superimposed sheets in the middle portion of the binder.

In designing an index sheet to accomplish the result desired, it is essential that the index sheet be so formed that it will not lose any of its flexibility and therefore render the book less convenient to use, and the main object of my invention is to provide an index sheet which will compensate for the diiierence in thickness of the set of sheets with which it is used, but which at the same time will not lose its flexibility.

Another object is to provide an index sheet which is easy to manufacture, and one which will continue to perform its function fora great length of time. y

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement ot parts, all as willmore fully appear from the following description taken in connection with th-e accompanying drawings, in which: Y,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the prefer-,red4 form o f my device. 4

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sect-ion on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a. modiiied form of my device.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of another modified form of my device.

Figure 7 is a section on lin-e 7-7 of Figure 6.

In the drawing, 1 is an index sheet having at one edge a plurality of apertures 2, by means of which the index sheet is held in position on the prongs or rings of a loose leaf binder. 3 is a tab usually provided on the opposite edge of the index sheet so that identifying indicia may be placed thereon. On the bottom edge of the index sheet, I secure by the use of adhesive or by other convenient means a comparatively narrow strip 4. The index sheet 1 is preferably made of coinparatively heavy paper and although the 'strip 4 may be made of paper if desired, I

prefer to use thin canvas. The strip 4 is provided with a. plurality, in this case shown as 11, of apertures 5 in longitudinally spaced relation which are in registration with apertures 6 in index sheet 1 so that the combined apertures 5 and 6 constitute apertures extending through index sheet 1 and strip 4-.

On the top edge of index sheet 1, I secure a strip 7 similar in size and shape to strip 4 and having a plurality of apertures 8, similar to apertures 5, and in registration with apertures 9 in index sheet 1.

As a modified form of my device, I have shown in Figures 4 and 5 an index sheet 10 having the usual spaced apertures 11 on one edge. On the bottom edge of the index sheet 10, I secure a strip 12 similar in design to 'strips 4 and 7 and being provided vwith apertures 13 in longitudinally spaced relation.

It will be understood that a strip similar to strip 12 is secured to the top edge of index sheet 10, although I have not here shown this second strip. In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, the index sheet 10 does not itself carry the perforations similar to the perfor-ations 6 and 9 in index sheet 1, but in all other respects index sheet 10 is similar to index sheet 1. In Figures 6 and 7, I have shown another 'modification of my device showing 'an index sheet 14 having the usual perforations 15. A strip 16 similar in length, width. 'and thickness to strips- 4 and 12 is secured tothe bottom yedge of index sheet 14. Strip 16 is provided with a plurality, in this case shown as 9, of U slots 17 Ain longitudinally spaced relotion. v

It' will be understood that a strip .similar to strip 16 is aflixed to the top edgeofindex-sheet 14, although I have not here shown such strip. Index sheet 14 is similar to index sheet 10 in that it is not provided with apertures 6 and 9 shown on index sheet 1.

In constructing an index sheet of my invention, it is desirable to provide strips 4, 7, 12 and 16 of a thickness which will vary according to the number and thickness of the sets of sheets with which the index sheet is to be used. For example, if there ar-e to be 36 sheets in a set and each sheet has a` thickness of .O05 of an inch, it will be apparent that since there will be, at the center of the binder, 18 sheets in superimposed relation resting upon the index sheet the combined thickness of the 18 sheets will be .09. Inasmuch as there is the thickness, .005 of an inch, of one sheet on the top and bottom edges of the index sheet, there will be a difference in thickness of the sheets between the central portion of the binder and the top and bottom edges of the binder of .O so that under these conditions the thickness of the strips 4 and 7 or 12 or 16 should be .085.

It will be apparent that my index sheet and the strips aiiixed thereto may be of diferent materials and of different thicknesses, but the securing of such strips .to the index sheet will not in any appreciable degree interfere with the flexibility of the index sheet, due to the fact that the strips 4, 7 and 12 having been provided with a series of adjacent apertures, or the strips 16 with a series of adjacent U slots,.wi1l permit the flexing of such strips with very little resistance from the material of which they are made and this is particularly true of the form shown inl Figure 1.

The apertures 6 and 9 are provided to decrease the resistance of the index sheet 1 to flexing. A

Although I have here shown an index sheet particularly adapted to be used with a loose leaf binder, yet it will be understood that my index sheet may be used with any type of binder or book, whether loose leaf or not, in which the sheets are arranged in overlapping relation. y

It will also be understood that the exact size, shape and position of the'stri'ps may be Varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit 'of my invention, for although I have shown and described specific structures and forms of parts as an exemplifi'cati'on -of myin-vention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape and relation ofparts, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An .index sheet comprising a body p0rtion,.a strip attached to the upper vevd-ge of the llO body portion,- and a secondfstrip secured to strips having weakened portions in longitudinally spaced relation.

2. An index sheet comprising a body portion, a strip attached to the upper edge of the body portion, and a second strip secured to the bottom edge of the body portion, said strips having cutaway portions in longitudinally spaced relation.

3. An index sheet comprising a body portion, a strip attached to the upper edge of the body portion, and a second strip secured to the bottom edge of the body portion, said strips being provided with a plurality of apertures in longitudinally spaced relation.

4. An index sheet comprising a body portion, a strip attached to the upper edge of the body portion, a second strip secured to the bottom edge of the body portion, said strips being provided with a plurality of apertures in longitudinally spaced relation, and a plurality of apertures in the body portion in registration with the apertures in the strips.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March. 1929.

JOHN L MCMILLAN. 

